Water Ghosts were the most frequent monsters Lann encountered after arriving in this world.
Their distribution was incredibly widespread.
They were covered in slime like frogs, with blue or black scales on their skin, and webbed fingers and toes, with fins on their backs and elbows.
When Lann first saw them while following Bordeaux, he couldn't help but think of a legendary food from his home world—
Pickled Shark Meat.
It was said to taste like ammonia.
Five Water Ghosts charged at Lann through the swampy mud, their fish eyes filled with greed for fresh flesh.
The leader's blue scales on its hind legs hid strong muscles.
With this strength, it leaped at Lann from two meters away, its claws tearing through the air simultaneously.
Claws weren't the Water Ghosts' strong point, but with the momentum of a pounce, it wouldn't be hard to rip a person's neck open.
Yet in the face of such an attack, the young man merely pressed his lips into a smile.
It had been a long time since he had seen such... a straightforward attack.
Diverging from the group, rushing forward, pouncing, clawing... were these Water Ghosts living in such a lenient environment?
Like a dance partner in perfect harmony, Lann nearly synchronized with the leader's leap as he jumped back.
From Bernie's perspective at the back, it seemed as if they had "chemistry"!
The leap back didn't cover the same distance as the pounce, but it was enough for Lann to get his face and neck out of the way of the Water Ghost's claws.
Then, the silver sword that naturally hung from the young man's hand lifted its tip.
That position was precisely where the Water Ghost's throat was as it lunged forward!
With a sound like water being released from a bag, the bright sword tip came out from behind the Water Ghost's neck with filthy blood and shredded flesh.
"Blargh-" The Water Ghost let out a short, abruptly cut-off scream.
"Hmm?"
Lann was slightly surprised; this was his first time killing a monster with a silver sword.
Compared to the feel of chopping processed leather with a steel sword before, the silver sword's effect on monsters slightly exceeded his expectations.
"I only intended to sever the main artery in the neck... but it seems I've cut through the vertebral link as well?"
His sword was steady and accurate. But precisely because of this, he felt astonished by such a "mishap."
The remaining four had also caught up by then, and Lann decided not to dwell on it.
With a "tear," the blade that pierced through the Water Ghost's neck was swung horizontally, slicing open half its neck.
The controlled splatter of filthy blood covered the approaching Water Ghosts' heads and faces.
They had no eyelids; the filthy blood clung directly to their eyeballs, blocking their vision.
Fighting monsters temporarily without vision or other senses, Lann felt at ease.
Using the swordsmanship of a Demon Hunter, he began to spin his body, shifting his center of gravity between spins and lateral jumps.
The "swinging" sword blade, powered by centrifugal force, easily severed the Water Ghosts' bones.
Within just a few breaths, the ground was littered with scaly limbs.
Arms, legs, even torsos split directly from left shoulder to right rib.
The cuts were smooth, clean, and precise.
The chaotic screams gradually weakened; even creatures as tenacious as monsters had no energy left to scream in this state.
The Quen Rune Lann had laid down out of caution had not been triggered by any external attack from start to finish.
Instead, after the fight ended, it dimmed and disappeared due to magic power exhaustion.
A Bear Demon Hunter, whose Quen wasn't even broken after a battle... this could only mean the gap between the combatants was too large.
If the five Water Ghosts had rushed him all at once, Lann would have found it troublesome; not only would the Quen Rune have broken, but his cotton armor robe might have gotten a few cuts too.
The first Water Ghost that broke from the pack really gave him a huge opening.
Lann pulled a coarse cloth from his pocket and wiped the remaining blood and grease off the blade before sheathing it.
If it needed proper maintenance, it would require oiling, but today's work wasn't over yet, so a simple wipe would suffice.
Bernie, who had been standing on the small hill, also came down to join Lann.
But halfway there, his expression slowly changed from shock to confusion, and then back to shock.
The first shock came from watching a Demon Hunter battle monsters for the first time.
He had never seen anyone face monsters so casually.
But the later change in emotion was because...
After cutting the Water Ghosts into a pile of dismembered parts, Lann didn't leave immediately.
Instead, he pulled out a small hunting knife from his waist and gathered the main parts of the Water Ghosts' remains together.
Then he began to dissect.
Even from Bernie's novice perspective, Lann's technique appeared obviously clumsy.
The small knife hacked back and forth over the Water Ghost's body as the young man stumbled in peeling off skin, breaking open muscles, and cracking bones.
Layer by layer, he "liberated" the Water Ghost's body to the outside world.
Bernie was a fisherman and part-time Hunter.
He could understand the act of claiming trophies from a hunted creature.
But seeing Lann's serious expression and deliberate actions... Bernie really didn't think he was merely gathering materials.
It seemed more like he was searching for or recording something?
Bernie watched for a while, but couldn't resist turning his head.
He had seen plenty of bloody scenes, but those involved beasts, and while Water Ghosts were monsters, they actually had a humanoid skeleton beneath their skin.
Lann's eyes were intensely focused, and compared to the earlier battle, it seemed as though this moment was what he valued the most.
He didn't lift his head, yet somehow already seemed aware of Bernie's reaction.
"There are many valuable materials on monsters, but as you can see, I'm also a novice. Otherwise, I wouldn't be here doing a non-profitable job like this. Bear with me, my friend."
Lann offered a brief explanation for his actions, and although they hadn't known each other long, he didn't think Bernie was the type to inquire deeply.
Sure enough, the Hunter, wearing long leather gloves, merely nodded with a pale face and, carrying his bow, walked away for a while.
Meanwhile, Lann's two hands, one holding the hunting knife, continued exploring a Water Ghost's remains.
The other hand gently probed the humanoid thoracic cavity, familiarizing itself with the feel of organs and blood vessels.
"New analysis project—[Biological Structure—Water Ghost]
Integrating information, current progress—15%
New analysis project—[Surgical Procedure]
Skill source—self-taught
Integrating information, current progress—1%."
Mentos's intelligent voice first reported the situation in a regulated format.
Only then did it begin to express its subjective opinion.
"Sir, I understand your obsession with genetic seed implantation, but I hope you'll reconsider. I still don't think performing surgery on oneself is wise. Especially when your access level isn't enough to activate the biological AI's [Body Control] function."
The monster's fetid blood splattered, but Lann's expression remained calm.
"By the time I have the academic recognition from the Human Union, my lengthy life as a Demon Hunter would likely be nearing its end. Mentos, I know what I'm doing."
"...I hope so."